SEOUL DESIGN AWARD

Group : Cape Town's Urban Sustainaility Unit

City : Cape Town, South Africa

Representative Designer : Iezel Krugger-Fountain, Ashley Hemraj

 

 

 

 

Grand Prize

 

Dunnon project

 

 

"Enjoyment and growth for teeangers through innovation in learning"

 

 

 

 

Dunoon is a post-Apartheid informal settlement located 20km northeast of Cape Town’s CBD.

Though planned for near 3000 families in 1995, by 2015 there were over 16000 families.

Due to the rapid urbanisation the local authority cannot continue using conventional strategies to address the community’s needs. 

After planning a survey from 2012 to 2015, Dunoon, which began as part of the Capitol project in 2014, was the entry point for public engagement.

 

 

 

Given the socio-economic conditions, the community views the Library as being more than itself : it’s their ‘common living room’ - both a work space and an extension of their homes.

As such the role of the library has evolved into a dynamic, multi-level space for learning, pleasure and personal growth.

Thus being an active agent in social transformation.

 

 

 

The sport facility is connected to the existing community hall via the library as a gesture of bringing sport and learning together.

We also introduced elements like the spray park, climbing wall and skate park.

This was attractive to community members who may not be interested in formal sports,

while we insured the health and safety of children on site by splitting the existing black water run-off from the storm water and play areas.

 

 

 

 In an area like Dunoon, with rapid in-migration far beyond what can be planned for,

creative and innovative design thinking can assist in creating a positive multiplication effect.